Steam separator



Sept. 8, 1931.

J R. KRUSE STEAM SEPARATOR Filed Feb. a. 1929 2 Sheets-$heet l Sept. 8, 1931. J. R. KRUSE 1,822,442

STEAM SEPARATOR Filed Feb. 8. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l I l I ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED- STATES PATENT .oFrrcE JOHN R. KR'USE, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL COM- BUSTION ENGINEERING CORPORATION,

DELAWARE OFNEW YORK, N. Y., .A CORPORATION OF STEAM 'snrAnA'roR I Application filed February 8, 192i). Serial No; 338,362.

This invention relates to a steam separator of the centrifugal type, and the priof this character so that substantially all water and foreign matter entrained in the steam as generated are separated therefrom,

before itis delivered to the point of use.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a centrifugal type of steam separator in which there is a minimum of dis turbance to the rotating vapors, as I have found by experience that the efficiency of a device of this character can be substantially increased by avoiding such disturbance, and in connection with this object I provide what may be called a skimmer means for more effectively separating the water and foreign matter from the steam.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a centrifugal separator which has an elongated tangential inlet, together with an axially disposed outlet for the cleaned steam so arranged as to give a uniform distribution of the. incoming steam along the separating chamber.

How I attain the foregoing objects, together with such other objects as may appear hereinafter, or are incident to my vention, can be best understood by reference to-the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a partial vertical section at the top of the steam boiler illustrating my improved separator appliedto the interior of the boiler.

Fig. '2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig- 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of e I Fig. 1.

-of a T fitting 8 is shown in position to deliver cleane'd steam to the outlet 6,-the ends 9 of this T fitting being arranged to project inwardly a short distance into a substantially cylindrical separating chamber 10.

The fitting 8 is directly held in position by means-of the strap 11 which is secured at its ends to the interior of the boile shell.

It will be seen from inspection of the drawings that the separating chamber 10 is of an elongated character having its ends closed by end plates 12 and 13.

It, will be noted in connection with these Figures 1 to 3 inclusive that there are two separating chambers 10, one for each end of the T fitting 8, and inasmuch as these are identical, except that they are applied in reverse direction, only one of them will be described. The two-chambers 10 are clamped together by means of the intervening bracing structure 14: and their outer ends are supported from the boiler shell' by hanger brackets 15. i

Each chamber 10 has a substantially tangential inlet 17 along its upper portion adjacent the top of the boiler shell, and this inlet is tapered as shown, with the narrower end'adjacent the outlet 9 and the-wider end adjacent the hanger brackets 15.

This tapered tangential inlet ensures a uniform distribution of the vapor along the.

separating chamber, forthe reason that as steam is withdrawn from the outlet 6, the pressure in the outlet line will, of course, drop more quickly at the ends 9 of the T than it will at the outer endsof the chambers 10, and by placing the narrower portion of the inlet closest to' the outlet, it will be seen that flow at this point will be somewhat restricted in comparison to fiow at the opposite end of the'inlefiopening. In this way I can ensure a very even and uniform distribution of flow along the entire length of the separating chamber.

.The steam entering the chambers 10, of

course, is given a whirling motion by virtue of the tangential inlet, and the heavier particles are thrown to 'the outside against the wall of the separating chamber. a Substantially oppositeto the inlet 17 I provide the tangential outlet 18 (see particularly Fig. 3) which discharges into a collecting naaaaaa or drain chamber 19 from which a pipe 20 may deliver, either to the boiler itself, or to some point outside the boiler.

Associated with the tangential outlet 18 I provide a knife edge 21 which extends upwardly into the path of the whirling vapors and serves to cut or scrape away the impurities and water from the steam, the steam passing onward in the direction of the arrow 22 and the impurities and water passing downward and outward in the general direction of the arrow 23.,

The knife edge 21 is very effective and accomplishes the necessary separation with a minimum disturbance to the rotating or whirling vapors. Any foreign matter and water which may not beseparated from the steam in the first instance will be carried around against the wall of the separating chamber and will be removed when it again reaches the knife edge 21. The dry, clean steam will pass outwardly through the axial outlet 9, the steam which enters the outlet being still in a whirling condition.

25 The separation effected by the knife edge 21 is in the nature of a skimming or scraping action, and the disturbance which it causes to the whirling or rotating motion of the vapors is very small. i

I claim A steam separator comprisin in combination, a pair of spaced cylin rical separating chambers each having a tangential steam inlet, a tangential outlet for discharge of separated water, and an outlet for the cleaned steam; and a steam outlet member locatedv between said chambers and receiving the cleaned steam therefrom; said tangential steam inlets bein tapered with their narrower portions towar the outlet member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

JOHN R. KRUSE. 

